But that song was treated as a novelty. Jamaican singer and musician, Desmond Dekker pictured wearing white trousers and a white cowl neck tunic and sitting on a stool circa 1969. lament, whose lyrics Dekker had written in his head while walking in a By 1971 the line-up had changed again, with Barry Howard now rejoined by Carl Hall. He was 64. , May 27, 2006, p. A11; You got wildlife and thing like that because it down near the beach. Dekker was the first Jamaican artist to have a hit record in the US with Jamaican-style music. He died after collapsing from a heart attack at. Steffens told Stewart in the A man of many talents, Desmond Adolphus Dacres, a.k.a. As a teenager he worked in a welding shop alongside Bob Marley and auditioned unsuccessfully for various producers until Mr. Marley encouraged him to try out for his own first producer, Leslie Kong. Desmond Dekker, who has died of a heart attack aged 64 in Surrey, was one of the first Jamaican vocalists to make a significant impact outside the land of his birth. Dekker was divorced and was survived by his son and daughter.[14]. Ska legend Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, his manager said today. UK ska-punk band Sonic Boom Six used a sample of the chorus as the outro to "Rum Little Skallywag". Musical Early Life Its title and lyrics refer to the cool imagery of films such as the James Bond series and Ocean's 11, admired by "rudies". made it into the Top Ten on the U.S. singles chart the following year. pioneer Desmond Dekker dominated Jamaica's pop charts in the 1960s, Dekker wrote the song after watching news coverage of a student demonstration against government plans to build an industrial complex on land close to the beach, which descended into violence. The , May 27, 2006, sec. [12][13], Dekker died of a heart attack on 25 May 2006, at his home in Thornton Heath in the London Borough of Croydon, England, aged 64[3] and was buried at Streatham Park Cemetery. Track listing. 30," Steffens said. Nincom Poop 8. [4] "007 (Shanty Town)" was a top 15 hit in the UK and his UK concerts were attended by a large following of mods wherever he played. Rock it to me, children. Anyone can read what you share. expressed in the growth of ska, a mix of imported rhythm and blues and reached No. hotspot in 2005, "which was almost completely people under I don't think anyone knew how close we were - we go back so far. [6], The 1980s found Dekker signed to a new label, Stiff Records, an independent label that specialized in punk and new wave acts as well as releases associated with the 2 Tone label, whose acts instigated a short-lived but influential ska revival. [7], "007" was Dekker's first international hit. Left to earn a living on his own, he apprenticed as a welder. . In 1962 "Judge Not" and "One Cup Of Coffee" became the first recorded efforts of Marley, who retained gratitude, respect and admiration for Dekker for the rest of his life. Dubbed "the King of Ska," Desmond Dekker is one of the key artists in the history of Jamaican music. Musical pioneer Desmond Dekker dominated Jamaica's pop charts in the 1960s, and became one of his country's first recording stars to achieve wider renown. Desmond Dekker was born on July 16, 1941. Desmond Dekker, was born in Jamaicas Saint Andrew Parish on July 16, 1941, and was an early influencer with one of the earliest reggae hits, Israelites. The ska, reggae and rock steady singer, songwriter and musician was introduced to music through the local church he attended as a child. [4] It combined the Rastafarian religion with rude boy concerns,[5] to make what has been described as a "timeless masterpiece that knew no boundaries".[6]. Problems 9. The song would return to the British charts in 1975 and was reissued as a single after being used in a commercial for Maxell recording tape in 1990. Most recently, it featured on the soundtrack of the 2019 film Vivarium. "When he released Israelites nobody had heard of Bob Marley - he paved the way for all of them.". Search instead in Creative? born in 1941 or 1942. Mr Williams said: "He was at his peak fitness, he had this big tour coming up for this summer and he was looking forward to it - and then that was it. Desmond Dekker & The Aces - Israelites (Official Lyrics Video) Trojan Records Official 109K subscribers Subscribe 40K Share 3.5M views 3 years ago #Pyramid #Israelites #rocksteady Between 1967. The 2006 to 2015 line-up for Dekker's backing band, The Aces, who are still performing tribute concerts, includes: This particular line-up also recorded with Dekker on some of his later studio sessions in the 1990s. It's Not Easy 3. Dekker became associated with bluebeat, a more uptempo of the world. The rhythm had been featured by Anthony B in 2008 on The Pow Pow Trilogy, ("Time For The Love"). Notable groups who have covered "007 (Shanty Town)" include: The song has been sampled by Special Ed ("I'm the Magnificent") and Shaggy ("Bonafide Girl"). As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. tribute, was evident in a sold-out show Dekker played at a Hollywood In 1975 "Israelites" was re-released and became a UK top 10 hit for a second time. Together with his backing group the Aces (consisting of Wilson James and Easton Barrington Howard), he had one of the earliest international reggae hits with "Israelites" (1968).Other hits include "007 (Shanty Town)" (1967), "It Mek" (1969) and "You Can Get It If You Really . Born Desmond Dacres in 1941, Dekker worked as a welder in Kingston before signing with Leslie Kong's Beverley's record label and releasing his first single, "Honor Your Father and Your Mother," in . 9 in the United States in 1969. Desmond Adolphus Dacres - Born in Saint Andrew Parish Kingston Jamaica 16th July 1941. He briefly had an apprenticeship as a tailor before working as a welder. Orphaned at an early age, he was sent to live in a [2] A gold record was presented by Ember Records, the distributors of Dekker's recordings.[2]. Also founder & MD of popular Reggae and Ska Tribute/backing band, Paul Abraham Guitarist and backing vocals, This page was last edited on 15 January 2023, at 17:21. His last concert was at Leeds Metropolitan University on 11 May. Desmond Dekker. Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 - 25 May 2006) was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. "007 (Shanty Town)" has been called "the most enduring and archetypal" rude boy song. Ironically although he went to worldwide fame his former welding colleague Marley never had a UK number one. "[3] According to the liner notes for the Dekker compilation album Rockin' Steady The Best of Desmond Dekker the phrase was also used as a schoolyard taunt roughly meaning "that's what you get." At the time of his death, he was preparing as the headliner of a world music festival in Prague. "007 (song)" redirects here. Desmond Dekker, was born in Jamaica's Saint Andrew Parish on July 16, 1941, and was an early influencer with one of the earliest reggae hits, "Israelites." The ska, reggae and rock steady singer, songwriter and musician was introduced to music through the local church he attended as a child. Their song "Working on it Night and Day", entered the pop charts in 1973. It was during this period that Desmond Dacres adopted the stage-name of Desmond Dekker. The song established Dekker as a rude boy icon in Jamaica and also became a favourite dance track for the young working-class men and women of the United Kingdom's mod scene. Tips of My Fingers 5. [3], Despite achieving a record deal, it was two years before Dekker saw his first record released. With the release of Israelites, Dekker became the first Jamaican artist to score a hit in the United States. Following his mother's death, he moved to the parish of St. Mary and later to St. 1 in Jamaica. "It is such a shock, I don't think I will ever get over this," he said. suffering even after independence from Britain. Dekker was a native of Kingston, Jamaica's capital, where he was His fans included the Beatles, who namechecked him in the lyrics to He was 64. The 7 Breakfast Dishes Every Jamaican Should Know How Jamaican Men Say Thank You to another Jamaican How Jamaicans Greet You When They Have Not Seen You 20 English Words That Sound Better In Jamaican Patois. Times Genres: Jamaican Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae. UK reissue of this two CD collection by the Reggae/Ska legend. In 1967 he appeared on Derrick Morgan's "Tougher Than Tough", which helped begin a trend of popular songs commenting on the rude boy subculture which was rooted in Jamaican ghetto life where opportunities for advancement were limited and life was economically difficult. He suffered a heart attack and The obituary was featured in Legacy on May 26, 2006. [2] It spent eleven weeks in the UK chart, and by September 1970 had sold over a million copies worldwide. The Harder They Come Along with Bob . [2] Dekker composed the song after overhearing an argument: "I was walking in the park, eating popcorn. [3], In 1968 Dekker's "Israelites" was released, eventually topping the UK Singles Chart in April 1969 and peaking in the top ten of the US Billboard Hot 100 in June 1969. "[8] The title has been the source of speculation,[9] but most settle on the Rastafarian Movement's association with the Twelve Tribes of Israel. [1] The group came to the attention of Dekker, who supported them when they auditioned for Leslie Kong at Beverley's studio in 1965. Many of his Ostensibly a reissue of his 1969 U.K. LP of 1966-1968 recordings, which had . The Aces, originally known as The Four Aces, were a Jamaican vocal group who are best known for their work with Desmond Dekker. In 1970 Dekker released "You Can Get It If You Really Want", written by Jimmy Cliff, which reached No. [3] Despite this, the single was the first UK reggae #1 and among the first to reach the US top ten (peaking at #9). The artist took a permanent residency in the UK in 1969. When Maxell used Israelites in a TV commercial, it propelled Dekker and his music back into the spotlight. I heard a couple arguing about money. Other hits include "007", "It Mek" and "You Can Get It If You Really Want". Browse 99 desmond dekker stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. jazz elements, combined with such local forms as calypso and mento and wider renown. View history " 007 (Shanty Town) " is a 1967 rocksteady song by Jamaican band Desmond Dekker and the Aces, released as a single from their debut album of the same name. Desmond Dekker 5/2006. Desmond Dekker, the orphan who trained as a welder alongside one Robert Marley and led the march of Jamaican music on to the global charts, has died aged 64. [1], Jamaica Independence Festival Song Contest, "Jamaica Ska Legend Winston Samuels Is Dead - News Americas NowCaribbean and Latin America Daily News", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Aces_(Jamaican_group)&oldid=1117842044, Easton Barrington "Barry" Howard (19651969), Winston James Samuels (left 1969, died 2017), This page was last edited on 23 October 2022, at 21:37. Desmond Dekker was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. , May 27, 2006, p. B17; and became one of his country's first recording stars to achieve "The Israelites," with its biblical imagery of suffering and redemption, showed the world reggae's combination of danceable rhythm and serious, sometimes spiritual intentions. And it just get out of controlIs just a typical riot 'cause I say - Them a loot, them a shoot, them a wail. Photograph: PA. He was renowned for his earliest reggae hit internationally 'Israelites.' He died at the age of Sixty Four years. Paul McCartney slipped Mr. Dekker's first name into the lyrics to the Beatles' ska song, "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," on "The Beatles" (also known as the White Album) in 1968, the year Mr. Dekker moved to England. Dekker, who lived in England, co Despite declining sales, Dekker remained a popular live performer and continued to tour with The Rumour. This Is Desmond Dekkar Review. The song was his only United States hit, but it was a turning point for Jamaican music among international listeners. Dekker was responsible for bringing Bob Marleys talents to the attention of Kong and the two had several successful collaborations. Dekker's trademark falsetto, singing lyrics in a The initial line-up of The Aces consisted of Clive Campbell, Barry Howard, Carl Howard, and Patrick Howard. An instrumental figure in the development of ska and its slightly mellower cousin, rocksteady, Dekker was also one the first reggae performers to break big in the U.K., laying the groundwork for that country's late 1970s 2 Tone movement. years earlier, when both worked as welders in Kingston, and Dekker [1] Little more was heard from the group until 1982 when they released "One Way Street". "The song, an ode to the troubles of the poor, It Mek (sometimes appearing as "A It Mek" or German language "It Miek") was a 1969 hit song by the Jamaican musicians Desmond Dekker & the Aces. Originally issued in Jamaica as "Poor Me Israelites",[7] it remains the best known Jamaican reggae hit to reach the United States Hot 100's top 10,[5] and was written almost two years after Dekker first made his mark with the rude boy song "007 (Shanty Town)". He had been due to perform at the Respect Festival in Prague on 2 June, and numerous dates across Europe during the summer. Desmond Adolphus Dacres (Desmond Dekker), singer and songwriter, born July 16 1941; died May 25 2006, Jamaican singer best known for The Israelites and It Miek, he helped launch the career of Bob Marley, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. This was followed by the release of the tracks "Sinners Come Home" and "Labour for Learning". When Kong died in 1971, Dekker's career faltered, and the hits List of number-one singles from the 1960s (UK), List of 1960s one-hit wonders in the United States, "Israelites / The Man - Desmond Dekker & The Aces", "Desmond Dekker & The Aces, Beverley's All Stars - Poor Me Israelites / Fly Right", Desmond Dekker and the Aces Israelites", The Irish Charts Search Results Israelites", "Desmond Dekker & the Aces: Artist Chart History", "Desmond Dekker The Aces Chart History (Hot 100)", Offiziellecharts.de Desmond Dekker and the Aces Israelites", "British single certifications Desmond Dekker & The Aces Israelites", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Israelites_(song)&oldid=1134128754, Short description is different from Wikidata, Single chart usages for Belgium (Flanders), Single chart usages for Belgium (Wallonia), Certification Table Entry usages for United Kingdom, Pages using certification Table Entry with streaming figures, Pages using certification Table Entry with streaming footnote, Articles with MusicBrainz release group identifiers, Articles with MusicBrainz work identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, "My Precious World (The Man)" by Beverley's All Stars, This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 03:48. Desmond Dekker discography and songs: Music profile for Desmond Dekker, born 16 July 1941. It Mek (sometimes appearing as "A It Mek" or German language "It Miek") was a 1969 hit song by the Jamaican musicians Desmond Dekker & the Aces.After being re-released in June 1969, the single reached number 7 in the UK Singles Chart. His manager and best friend, Delroy Williams, said he had seen the singer and songwriter the night before and he had seemed fine. That same year saw the release of "Beautiful and Dangerous", "Writing on the Wall", "Music Like Dirt (Intensified '68)" (which won the 1968 Jamaica Independence Festival Song Contest), "Bongo Girl" and "Shing a Ling". the film introduced Jamaica's vibrant musical culture to the rest The star was divorced with a son and daughter. Dekker's next album, Compass Point (1981), was produced by Robert Palmer. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Desmond Dekker - Israelites (Official Music Video) Weedy Weed Smoker 7.04K subscribers Subscribe 349K views 5 years ago Music video by Desmond Dekker performing Israelites. , May 30, 2006, p. B7. I was his manager and his best friend. New York Times He returned to the British charts with "Sing a Little Song" in 1975. This was the sense used in the song's lyrics, which metaphorically tell of the problems that happens when someone (such as a lover) goes too far. The most successful track of his Dekker's own songs did not go to the extremes of many other popular rude boy songs, which reflected the violence and social problems associated with ghetto life, though he did introduce lyrics that resonated with the rude boys, starting with one of his best-known songs, "007 (Shanty Town)". He collaborated with the Specials on the 1993 album, King of Kings, which was released under Desmond Dekker and the Specials. introduced Marley to the record label executives who shaped his own Desmond Dekker was born on 16 July 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica. He often sang on the job, which prompted charts in the United States, and opened the ears of the world to the music Destitute ("slaving for bread") and unkempt ("Shirt dem a-tear up, trousers a-go"), some Rastafarians were tempted to a life of crime ("I don't want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde"). On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. This double disc set features every major UK and Jamaican chart hit by the first King of Reggae, all sourced from the original analog master tapes. I told you once and I told you twice. "The Israelites" was the peak of Mr. Dekker's extensive career, selling more than a million copies worldwide. Later that decade, however, there was a revival of interest in "He died peacefully but it still hurts. A series of songs including "Rude Boy Train" and "Rudie Got Soul" made Mr. Dekker a hero of Jamaica's rough urban "rude boy" culture. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for TROJAN DUB MASSIVE CHAPTER TWO 2 CD REGGAE SKA ROOTS DESMOND DECKER 40th lp 45 at the best online prices at eBay! comparisons between Jamaica's poor and the beleaguered Israelites A man of many talents, Desmond Adolphus Dacres, a.k.a. international hit. He found fame with his band Desmond Dekker and the Aces - their international hit Israelites topped the UK charts and made the top 10 in the US. "independence in 1962 had bestowed a new cultural confidence, 15 on the British charts. the resurgence of ska in England, and top-selling bands like Madness and which Dekker admitted was the result of a swindle by his former manager. He was already a major star in Jamaica and well known in Britain. 1972 film [2] The single featured Roland Alphonso's "El Torro" on the B-side.[2]. This early religious upbringing, as well as Dekker's enjoyment of singing hymns, led to a lifelong religious commitment. It was his workmates who first noted his vocal talents, as the youngster sang around the workshop. [3] 1969 saw the release of "It Mek", which became a hit both in Jamaica and the UK. The 2016 - current line up of musicians for Desmond Dekker's band the Aces featuring Delroy Williams & Guests. Dekker was initially reluctant to record the track but was eventually persuaded to do so by Leslie Kong. But a new version of Israelites was released in 1990 and used in television commercials, boosting the star's popularity. Photo Courtesy:Desmond Dekker Reggae Facebook. He also collaborated on a remix of "Israelites" with reggae artist Apache Indian. He had another hit in 1969, "It Mek," and a year later He was also a songwriter and a musician as well. He was a composer, known for Fool's Gold (2008), Idiocracy (2006) and Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008). "Desmond was the first legend, believe it or not. Mr. Dekker was named Desmond Adolphus Dacres when he was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1941. May 25, 2006 - Desmond Dekker was born Desmond Adolphus Dacres on July 16th 1941 in Saint Andrew Parrish, Kingston, Jamaica. [11] In June 1969 it reached the Top Ten in the United States, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. In the 1960s, Jamaican Rastafarians were largely marginalized as "cultish" and ostracized from the larger society, including by the more conservative Christian church in Kingston. Me said a it mek - mek you pop yu bitta gall. It was one of the first reggae songs to become an international hit, despite Dekker's strong Jamaican accent which made his lyrics difficult to understand for many listeners outside Jamaica.[10]. released the song "You Can Get It If You Really Want." Sung in Jamaican creole, some of the song's lyrics were not readily understood by many British and American listeners at the time of its release. [9][10] Ethnomusicologist Michael Veal identifies "007 (Shanty Town)" as one of the songs that demonstrated the viability of Jamaican music in England.[11]. But his success started to wane by the end of the 70s and early 80s and he was declared bankrupt in 1984. States, but it reached No. Intensified 4. Black and Dekker offbeat." The song's title is Jamaican patois meaning "that's why" or "that's the reason. 1 in Britain and made him a household name Survivors include [1], The original recording of "007" (without the 'Shanty Town') was produced by Leslie Kong and originally released as a single on the Pyramid label. With "The Israelites," released in Jamaica in December 1968, Mr. Dekker had an international impact. Intensified is an album by Desmond Dekker & the Aces released in 1970. Singer. Eventually in 1963 Kong chose "Honour Your Mother and Father" (written by Dekker and the song that Dekker had sung in his Kong audition two years earlier), which became a Jamaican hit and established Dekker's musical career. Singer. in 1980, and The 64-year-old Jamaican, best known for his 1969 smash hit Israelites, collapsed at his home in Surrey yesterday morning. Thomas. The song has appeared in numerous movies and television programs,[14] including the soundtracks of the 1989 American film Drugstore Cowboy and the 2010 British film Made in Dagenham. Mr Dekker, who was divorced with a son and a daughter, played his last gig at Leeds University on May 11. Desmond Dekker was the first to have hit records outside of Jamaica and his influence on young white British teenagers was pivotal to his success in the 1960s. Desmond Dekker unleashed a flood of fine singles across the '60s and early '70s, all under the aegis of producer Leslie Kong.Taking a chance on an untried youngster barely into his teens, who'd already been shown the door by Coxsone Dodd and Duke Reid, Kong nurtured Dekker to international stardom, only to die suddenly in 1971, two years after the singer's breakthrough. [8] The single was a number one hit in Jamaica and reached number 14 on the UK Singles Chart, making it the first Jamaican-produced record to reach the UK top 20.